Vein of Galen

At Children’s Hospital Boston, important technical breakthroughs are taking place in the approach to treating vein of Galen malformation (VOGM). 

Although there are some VOG malformations that are impossible to treat due to severe brain or multiorgan injury at the outset, new developments are paving the way for even more effective treatment:

• Glue-like substances that are injected into the brain are becoming less toxic and more controllable than before, while catheters are now even smaller and more flexible.

• The development of new advanced variants of MRI/MRA/MRV has helped tremendously in assessing the overall condition of the brain, as well as the detailed morphology of the VOGM itself.

• There is a significant amount of research in basic vascular biology about the underlying causes of VOG malformation, about broader vascular conditions of which VOGM may be one manifestation, and about how generally the blood vessels of the brain form. This may pave the way for earlier detection of VOGM as well as leading to supplemental medical treatment aimed at maximizing normal blood flow to the brain, while minimizing flow through the VOGM itself.

Learn more about innovations taking place in Interventional Radiology at Children’s.

Find out about clinical trials happening at Children's.